Two Jeff School Board members criticize district's desegregation process

Michael DeMocker/The Times PicayuneJefferson School Board members Libby Moran, left, and Gene Katsanis have criticized the district's desegregation process.

It's no secret that School Board member Gene Katsanis dislikes the district's ongoing desegregation process.

He made his stance abundantly clear this week, when he trashed the desegregation order and its supporters toward the end of the board meeting.

Responding to complaints from librarians and teachers, who are being forced to transfer schools this year as part of the desegregation process, Katsanis called the court order "the most dangerous thing we've ever faced" and claimed it would eventually "destroy" the school system, as well as the careers of its many employees.

"It's a disgrace for us to be put under this and be clobbered and killed because of some ignorant people who don't know what they're doing," he said.

It was unclear if Katsanis was referring to board attorney Charles Patin or plaintiffs attorney Gideon Carter, both of whom have been targeted by board members before. Katsanis demanded that the attorneys join him and the board in an executive session Wednesday, to go over personnel issues.

"They work for us," Katsanis said of the attorneys. "We need to tell them to go back to federal court. The purpose of the whole case is to improve things for students. It's not, it's (having) the opposite effect."

Katsanis wasn't alone is his outrage. Board member Libby Moran joined in the attack, challenging the public to point out one positive thing that has come out of the desegregation order.

Moran even gave out her home phone number -- 504.737.8050 -- and asked people to call with specific examples, so she could bring a list to Wednesday's meeting.

"Don't call me if it's negative. Only positive," she said. "I doubt I'll get a call."

Jenny Hurwitz can be reached at 504.826.3784 or jhurwitz@timespicayune.com.